The Legislative 2013 Report Card The Legislative Report Card recognizes legislators for their support on initiatives that will help move Virginia forward, and additionally provides analysis of a legislator’s support for the business community’s priorities. The Virginia Chamber of Commerce annually develops a proactive Legislative Agenda outlining the priorities and expectations of Virginia’s business community. This agenda also provides legislators with a clear understanding of the business community’s legislative priorities. During the 2013 session, almost 2600 bills were introduced in the General Assembly. The Virginia Chamber of Commerce was active and involved in many bills, and provided legislators with a weekly “Bills We’re Watching” report delineating the Chamber’s position on bills of interest to the business community. At the conclusion of the session, legislators’ voting records on these bills were recorded and calculated. The Legislative Report Card recognizes legislators for their support on initiatives that will help move Virginia forward, and additionally provides analysis of a legislator’s support for the business community’s priorities. With the help of Virginia’s pro-business legislators, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce was successful on 90% of its Legislative Priorities during the 2013 session and saved Virginia employers billions of dollars. The Virginia Chamber’s 2013 Legislator of the Year Award is the business community’s premier legislative award honoring the lawmaker who demonstrates outstanding leadership on pro- 2013 business issues. The award recognizes a leader for Legislator of the distinguished advocacy of the free enterprise Year Award system. After the 2013 legislative session, the Legislator of the Year Award was presented to Virginia House Speaker William Howell. During the General Assembly session, Speaker Howell led the fight to strengthen Virginia’s economy, establish predictability and stability with Virginia’s business climate and support private-sector job creation. Under Speaker Howell’s leadership, the House advanced a pro-business legislative agenda that will enhance Virginia’s competitiveness in the global economy. From tort reform and staving off a big Speaker of the House increase in unemployment insurance taxes, to William Howell investments in transportation and education, Speaker Howell worked tirelessly in tackling the Commonwealth’s most pressing issues. The Virginia Chamber applauds Speaker Howell for his commitment to free market principles and his willingness to take a stand for Virginia businesses. 2013 Legislative Report Card • 1 Leadership in Energy Award Delegate Terry Kilgore and Senator Dick Saslaw Energy plays a tremendous role in the decisions companies make on expanding or relocating operations. Virginia’s overall competitiveness relies on long-term, comprehensive energy policies that provide for reliable, cost-effective energy sources to support economic growth. The Leadership in Energy Award recognizes Del. Terry Kilgore Sen. Dick Saslaw legislators who advance policies that increase energy independence, promote the use of domestic energy sources and embrace the adoption and deployment of advanced, efficient technologies that further fuel source diversification through all energy sources. In the 2013 General Assembly, Senator Dick Saslaw and Delegate Terry Kilgore engineered a compromise between the consumers and the electric utility companies that is a positive force for continued economic growth and will benefit electric customers of all sizes. This compromise legislation contains new standards for earnings sharing among utilities and customers, revises the system of incentives and provides regulatory certainty needed to strengthen Virginia’s electric infrastructure and to provide reliable, cost-effective power. For their efforts in improving and advancing Virginia’s energy policies, the Virginia Chamber recognizes Delegate Terry Kilgore and Senator Dick Saslaw with the Leadership in Energy Award. Economic Competitiveness Award Delegate S. Chris Jones, Delegate David Albo, Senator Frank Wagner and Senator Janet Howell Virginia’s transportation infrastructure is vital to the Commonwealth’s economic competitiveness. The Commonwealth’s transportation system supports business, tourism and economic growth. With over 99 percent of the world’s consumers Del. S. Chris Jones Del. David Albo outside of the state’s borders, an effective transportation network that efficiently moves people and goods is essential to Virginia’s economic prosperity. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth faces many transportation challenges: increased demand for highway and passenger rail service; an aging transportation infrastructure; funding shortfalls that inhibit our ability to meet highway, transit and passenger rail maintenance, construction and operational needs; and congestion. While our transportation challenges are significant, the General Assembly took a major step forward in addressing the Commonwealth’s critical infrastructure Sen. Frank Wagner Sen. Janet Howell needs by passing a landmark transportation funding package that will ensure long- term, dedicated and sustainable funding is available to meet Virginia’s vital highway, rail and transit needs. This year’s Economic Competitiveness Award recognizes the legislators who were instrumental in developing a bipartisan transportation bill that invested in an essential component of our economy — the Commonwealth’s transportation system. For their efforts in supporting economic growth and development through key investments in Virginia’s transportation infrastructure, the Virginia Chamber recognizes Delegates David Albo and S. Chris Jones and Senators Janet Howell and Frank Wagner with the Economic Competitiveness Award. 2 • 2013 Legislative Report Card Legal Reform Advocate Award Delegate Christopher Head, Delegate C. Todd Gilbert, Delegate Salvatore Iaquinto, Delegate Gregory Habeeb, Delegate Benjamin Cline, Delegate David Albo, Delegate Terry Kilgore, Senator Thomas Norment, Senator Richard Stuart and Senator Bryce Reeves Del. Christopher Head Del. C. Todd Gilbert Virginia’s legal climate is important to the Commonwealth’s economic competitiveness. A stable, predictable legal system that provides for a fair and efficient civil justice process, controls litigation costs, protects private property rights and eliminates lawsuit abuse is essential to promote economic growth and job creation. While Virginia has been recognized in national surveys as a “top state” for business, certain areas of the Commonwealth’s tort liability system lag well behind a number of states in fostering an environment in which businesses can thrive. With Del. Salvatore Iaquinto Del. Gregory Habeeb businesses still struggling to recover from one of the worst economic downturns in our nation’s history, improving the Commonwealth’s legal climate, which studies show, could save $453 million in legal costs and increase employment by as much as one percent in Virginia. The Advocate in Legal Reform Award recognizes legislators whose significant contributions to legal reforms are critical to lower the cost of litigation, improve the legal environment and encourage business confidence and investment in Virginia. For their efforts in improving Virginia’s legal system, the Advocates in Legal Reform Del. Benjamin Cline Del. David Albo Award goes to Delegates David Albo, Benjamin Cline, C. Todd Gilbert, Gregory Habeeb, Christopher Head, Salvatore Iaquinto and Terry Kilgore, and Senators Thomas Norment, Bryce Reeves and Richard Stuart. Del. Terry Kilgore Sen. Thomas Norment “The Legislative Report Card allows us to recognize and honor legislators who uphold free market principles and support the interests of the business community. In addition, it provides analysis of a legislator’s support for the Sen. Richard Stuart Sen. Bryce Reeves business community’s priorities.” Barry DuVal President & CEO Virginia Chamber 2013 Legislative Report Card • 3 Excellence in Education and Workforce Training Award Delegate Kirk Cox, Delegate David Yancey and Senator Harry Blevins Virginia’s economic well-being is inextricably linked to the education and skills of its citizens. Many Virginia employers are faced with an insufficient supply of skilled and educated workers because of gaps in skills and training. It is imperative that the Del. Kirk Cox Del. David Yancey educational system, beginning with early childhood education programs and workforce training initiatives are aligned with the skill requirements and workforce needs of businesses. The Excellence in Education and Workforce Training Award recognizes legislators who worked to improve education in Virginia. This year, Delegate Kirk Cox and Senator Harry Blevins sponsored multiple bills to improve teacher quality and provide early intervention services to students in kindergarten, first and second grades who demonstrate deficiencies in reading. Delegate David Yancey sponsored legislation to increase the amount of tax credit an Sen. Harry Blevins employer can claim for worker retraining, specifically if the retraining involves a STEM or STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Applied Mathematics) discipline. For their efforts in improving education in Virginia and better aligning education and workforce training programs with the needs of businesses, the Virginia Chamber recognizes Delegates Kirk Cox and David Yancey and Senator Harry Blevins with the Excellence in Education and Workforce Training Award. Champions of Free Enterprise